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蹰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蹰chúto falter, to waver, to hesitatex, 19 strokes, radical 足
蹰chúirresoluteunknown, 19 strokes, radical 足
蹰chúundecidedunknown, 19 strokes, radical 足
chú(chu2)chu T2
  1. 1to falter, to waver, to hesitate
  2. 2irresolute
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March 24, 2026

蹰(躕)chú(chu2)

The character 蹰 (chú) conveys the idea of faltering or hesitating, often implying a lack of decisiveness. It is commonly used to describe situations where someone is unsure or indecisive, reflecting a moment of wavering in action or thought.

Strokes19Radical足
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, decisiveness is often valued in both personal and professional settings, making hesitation a notable character trait. The concept of being resolute is often highlighted in literature and teachings.

Memory tip

Imagine a person trying to walk steadily but keeps stumbling and hesitating, like a bird (鸟, niǎo) that can't decide whether to land. The character 蹰 resembles someone hesitating to take a step forward, with the foot radical (足, zú) hinting at movement.

Meanings of 蹰

chú(chu2)
1to falter, to waver, to hesitate
2irresolute
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蹰

蹰Simplified
躕Traditional
19Strokes
足Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蹰

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Podcast: 蹰

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AI study notes for 蹰

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone when saying 蹰; it must be pronounced with a rising tone (chú). This word is relatively formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversation, so it's best suited for literary or more serious contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 蹰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other HSK words that express uncertainty or indecision. Focus on the nuances of related words like 犹豫 (yóuyù, to hesitate) to deepen your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蹰 with similar-sounding words. For example, using it in a casual setting might sound awkward; instead of saying '我今天很蹰', use a more straightforward term like '我今天很犹豫' (I'm feeling hesitant today).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蹰

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Etymology of 蹰

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

foot

Semantic (meaning)足
+
Phonetic (sound)厨
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

蹰 = 足 + 厨. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蹰

IDS Structure⿰足厨
蹰Full character
=
足ju4
left
厨chu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蹰?

How to say to falter, to waver, to hesitate in Chinese

“to falter, to waver, to hesitate” in Chinese is蹰chú

The character 蹰 (chú) conveys the idea of faltering or hesitating, often implying a lack of decisiveness. It is commonly used to describe situations where someone is unsure or indecisive, reflecting a moment of wavering in action or thought.

When to use 蹰

Be careful with the tone when saying 蹰; it must be pronounced with a rising tone (chú). This word is relatively formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversation, so it's best suited for literary or more serious contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蹰 with similar-sounding words. For example, using it in a casual setting might sound awkward; instead of saying '我今天很蹰', use a more straightforward term like '我今天很犹豫' (I'm feeling hesitant today).

Write 蹰

蹰

Practice writing 蹰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 蹰

Words containing this character3
踟蹰to waver踟躕
蹰chúirresolute躕
踟蹰不前hesitant to take action踟躕不前
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 蹰

What does 踟蹰 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 蹰

You can say '他在选择时总是蹰躇不前', meaning 'He always hesitates when making choices.'

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